“From the way Peterson whisked her away, my guess is yes.”
The crowd suddenly dispersed, and El and I walked forward to find out what all the hoopla was about. The workers inside, mainly young girls wearing khaki shorts or skirts with pink shirts with the Marion’s Dairy logo, were mopping up quite a mess. There was ice cream smeared across the floor and walls. “What happened in here?” I asked a young blonde.
She smiled, her cheeks quite rosy, as she replied, “Some crazy lady started tearing up the place.” And with a roll of her blue eyes, added, “She said she was looking for treasure. Why she thought it was in the bottom of a tub of ice cream, I have no idea.”
I thanked the girl and took stock of the place, from the red booth benches to the jukebox along one wall. The smell of golden waffle cones, freshly made, drifted into my nostrils, and my stomach rumbled in response.
“If I were the treasure, where would I hide?” I whispered to El, who shrugged. We began to check beneath the booths but came up empty. I swallowed hard when a manager-type guy walked over to us. “We’re closed until we get cleaned up,” he informed us.
“I see. Well, we’re just checking to make sure there isn’t gum under these tables.”
He smiled. “I’d expect you might find some, but we try our best to keep on top of it.”
“I have to pee,” I announced out of the blue, and he walked away, obviously not wanting to get any more involved with the two of us. El and I used the bathroom, and after a thorough inspection, we realized there was not a jewel to be found.
We walked out, and I stared up at a little aluminum boy figurine holding an ice cream cone on the roof, and all of a sudden, a light bulb went off. “I wonder if there is something on the roof?” I said quietly to El.
She shifted back on her heels. “I hope you don’t expect me to climb on that roof to check.”
I giggled at that. “Oh, no,” I said. “But it might be a good job for Martha.”
El rolled her eyes. “I can’t imagine Martha will be willing to help us.”
“Oh, I don’t know. She’s always up for one of our adventures.”
***
An hour later, Martha arrived in her clunky station wagon. Once she settled herself on the sofa, I laid out our plans for the evening, Martha gasped, “You want me to do what?”
“Climb on the roof of Marion’s Dairy and look for treasure.”
“Oh, come now, Mother. What makes you think you’ll find anything up there?”
“We checked under the tables and in the bathroom and came up empty,” El said.
“I think the roof is the logical place to search,” I insisted. “It’s the only other place it could be.”
Martha’s eyes widened. “How in the heck is that logical? It’s downright crazy to hide treasure there,” she said.
“I have complete confidence that you’ll find treasure. If you look well enough, that is.”
Martha shook her head and then gave in. “Oh, why not? It’s not like I haven’t gone along with one of your crazy adventures before.”
***
Darkness blanketed East Tawas as we made our way downtown on the sly, trying our best not to be noticed. It was after midnight, and most of East Tawas had long gone to bed.
Once we were there, Martha threw up a rope, watching with bated breath until it encircled a pipe on the roof. She then scaled the side of the building, jumping up on the roof. She made it look so easy, like she’d done this before. She gyrated against the iron figurine on the roof, and I wanted to smack her, but then she disappeared. An occasional car passed, and each time, El and I flattened ourselves against the building, hoping we wouldn’t be discovered.
“I wonder what’s taking her so long?” I whispered to El.
“Beats me, but she’d better hurry before the fuzz shows up.”
Suddenly, an alarm sounded, and El and I high-tailed it back to the car and roared the engine to life. As I pulled off the curb, I saw Martha shimmy down from the roof and run toward the car. I braked hard, and Martha ran headlong into the side of the car with a yelp. Eleanor opened the door and shouted, “Would you get in here before the sheriff shows up?”
Martha jumped into the back seat, and I zoomed away from the scene. “Did you have to set off the alarm?” I scolded.
“I didn’t mean to, but look what I found.” She dangled a gold chain with a teardrop sapphire hanging from it.
I swerved out of the lane and before I regained my composure. I made way for the cabin and we congregated inside. “Thanks, Martha,” I said, as I held out my hand.
“Finders keepers,” she crooned with a laugh, but the laughter stopped quickly when my eyes glazed over. She handed it to me and said, “I was just kidding. I don’t want any cursed treasure.”
El smiled. “Me either. Agnes hid the other jewelry we found. She won’t even tell me where she hid it.”
Martha’s brow shot up. “I always knew my mom was the sneaky one. It’s no wonder she turned out like she has.”
“And that means what, exactly?”
“Well, a lonely old woman is what. Where is that man of yours, anyway?”
I puffed up my chest and said, “He’s staying at the Days Inn.”
“That’s a switch. Trouble in paradise already?”
“No, I don’t need a man wrapped around me twenty-four/seven, you know. I know he loves me, but I also know he’s not so keen on my investigating.”
“Oh, no? Do tell.”
“He thinks we need to be more careful and that we put ourselves in danger on too many occasions.”
Martha nodded in agreement. “He’s right. You do know that you’re not getting any younger, right?”
I waved a hand at her. “Oh, please. I’m so sick of everyone and their unsolicited advice. El and I don’t purposely put ourselves in danger. It’s just how it seems to work out.”
“Yeah,” El said. “For the record, we always find our bad guy or gal, and they always wind up in jail.”
“Except for the ones who end up dead, you mean. Right?” Martha asked.
I pulled out wine glasses and filled one for each of us. “It’s not like El and I had a hand in anyone’s death.”
“And the one flew out the window … how?”
“I can’t believe you. Eleanor and I almost met out maker that day.” Truth was, I’d rather forget the case that involved the death of Herman Butler. It had me thinking about curses, something that I just wasn’t inclined to believe at this point.
Martha took a healthy drink of her wine and apologized. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up any unpleasant memories. We need to stay on task, but I just love this scavenger hunt you’re on.”
My brow shot up. “Is this what you think is happening here?”
“Well, yes,” Martha said. “Someone spreads a rumor about a legendary hidden treasure and curse, but instead of a map to where it’s really hidden, it’s scattered all over town.”
“That’s what worries me. What happens when all the treasure is located?” I gasped out. “I can’t help but feel that someone is using us as pawns in some kind of sick game.”
El’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, what does any of this have to do with Mildred? It makes her death all the more suspicious. Her original text was sent to her son.”
“No, she sent him a picture of the map. That’s all. Why on earth was that woman murdered?”
Martha downed her wine and said, “I think you should keep doing what you are doing, and only then will you figure out the truth.” She glanced at her watch and headed for the door, wishing us a good night.
“I just don’t like this, Aggie,” El said once Martha was gone. “I just think we need to be extra careful. Not only do we have a mystery person watching our every move, but we have to watch out for whoever else is searching for the treasure, too. I don’t want to tangle with the Cat Lady. You know full well how that will end, in a blaze of glory via her loaded shotgun.”
I would have rathe
r not thought about her right then. “She’s locked up now.”
“Which means exactly nothing. She’s probably made bail by now. I think she’s the ringleader of the group we saw at Tim Horton’s.”
I took a drink and made a face, as the wine was way too dry for me. “Her involvement baffles me. I just don’t see her as a moneygrubber. She lives quite modestly, and don’t forget that she didn’t have a stitch of furniture in her house when we stopped by on our first case.”
“Exactly. She obviously wants to upsize, maybe in town somewhere.”
“I sure hope she’s not involved in Mildred’s death. What if someone is using her like they are using us?”
“Good point. We should question her. At this point, she likes us—or me, at least.”
“Thanks, Eleanor.” I grimaced, not looking forward to a future encounter with the Cat Lady. “I just hope I won’t be expected to drink any more of her moonshine.”
“I wouldn’t let you do that again, ever. I promise.”
Eleanor wobbled toward her room, and once I was sure she was gone, I hid the necklace with the other jewels. I smiled to myself. It’s strange how it only takes one glass of wine to make me tipsy, and with that last thought, I headed to bed, falling soundly asleep without another thought.
Chapter Ten
I woke up first and brewed the morning coffee. I had no idea why my head pounded so hard since I had only had one glass of wine the night before, but my tolerance for alcohol had changed since I turned seventy. I poured oatmeal into a pan of boiling water as El sauntered into the room. From the drawn look on her face, I knew better than to say a word. I’ve had mornings like that, too. Ones where I was a bear if anyone so much as spoke to me.
When the oatmeal was ready, I dished it up and carried it to the table, where Eleanor was leaning over her coffee, allowing the steam to whisk its way into her nostrils. I mixed in a healthy portion of Splenda brown sugar into my bowl with a little milk, and tried it out. Why, it wasn’t half bad, and so good for you, too.
“Is it safe to talk now, Eleanor?”
Her eyes met mine. “Why did you think it wasn’t?”
I fingered the rim of my coffee cup. “You just had that look is all. I hope you’re feeling okay. Do you want to laze around here today? I mean, if you need more down time.”
“I’m fine, and we won’t get a thing accomplished if we do that. Surely the Cat Lady has been released from jail by now.”
“We could swing by there and check. Maybe we should bail her out if she hasn’t been released yet.”
Eleanor laughed with a snort. “Oh, really? So you do have a soft spot for the ole Cat Lady, do you?”
“Not hardly, but I’d sure love to question the old girl. Do you think she’d be forthcoming?”
“Only one way to find out.” With that, Eleanor got up and left the room. A few minutes later, she returned dressed in all pink, a color that always looks best on her. As for me, I was already in navy blue. I took a peek out the patio door and noticed the lake was quite choppy, but rays of sunlight shone through the gathered clouds.
I headed toward the Sheriff’s Department, whirling into the last space available. El and I clamored out, and soon we were waiting at the desk. “Can I help you?” a fiery redhead asked.
I stared at her and her sun-kissed cheeks. “So you’re Janice, the new girl?”
Her green eyes lit up. “Why, yes. I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“No. I’m Agnes Barton.” I thumbed in El’s direction. “And this is my partner, Eleanor Mason. We’re private investigators,” I informed the wide-eyed girl of twenty, if she was even that old.
“Oh, I see.” She looked around. “I believe Clem mentioned something about you. Are you here to see the sheriff?”
“No. We’re here to bail out a friend. Her name’s the Cat Lady.”
“I don’t think we have anyone by that name here,” she said hesitantly.
Peterson approached the desk, and Janice told him why we were there. “I see. Well, I certainly didn’t expect you girls to show up and bail Bernice out. You know, that’s the Cat Lady’s real name. Bernice Riley.”
“Wow, I never knew her real first name, but yes, we’d like to bail her out,” I said.
“No need. We just got word that the owners of Marion’s Dairy Bar decided not to press charges. I suppose they didn’t want any negative publicity.”
A few minutes later, the Cat Lady—or Bernice—met us in the lobby. With narrowed eyes, she asked, “Why are you two here?”
“We planned to bail you out, but the good sheriff told us the charges were dropped.”
She rubbed a brown hat between her fingers. “That was kind of you. I sure could use a ride home. If you don’t mind, that is.”
“Of course not, Bernice.”
“Cool it on the Bernice. I’d prefer to be called the Cat Lady. It’s all anyone has called me in years.”
“I know. I think Bernice is a great name, but I’ll continue to call you the Cat Lady, if you want.”
As we walked out to the black Cadillac, Cat Lady shot me a look. “Since when do you have the money to buy a new Cadillac? Have you recently come into a fortune?”
“No, it’s a rental. We’re trying to keep a low profile.”
Cat Lady smiled, revealing two missing teeth. “Like anyone wouldn’t remember a car like that. Some low profile! You girls sure crack me up.”
I shrugged as I sat down in the driver’s seat. I adjusted the mirrors and caught sight of Trooper Sales heading inside. Since El and I were still on the suspect list for the murder of Mildred, I left. I made the turn down the gravel road that led to the Cat Lady’s house, cringing as branches scraped the side of the car.
I braked hard when the Cat Lady’s house came into view, but instead of the dilapidated old house we had visited before, the place looked transformed. Gone was the barnwood, and in its place was yellow vinyl siding. All of the windows had been redone, too. I just had to ask, “Did you come into money, Cat Lady?”
She smiled. “Not yet, but I’m expecting to, real soon. I was given an advance, that’s all.”
I turned in my seat and locked eyes with her. “Oh, really? For what?”
She leaned forward. “Why, for finding the treasure. You know, the same one you and El have been searching for. Have you had any luck yet?”
“Nope,” El and I simultaneously chimed.
“For some reason, I don’t believe you girls, but no matter. There’s plenty of treasure for all of us. There’s no need to be greedy about it. I think that’s why they printed the treasure map in that tabloid.”
“Who is that?”
“Surely, you must have figured that out already.”
“Sorry, but no. Who would pay you in advance for a treasure you haven’t even found yet?’
She smiled, but just shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. It so wouldn’t be helping my cause, but let me just say he’s new in town.”
“Is he related to Mildred Winfree?”
She chuckled. “I don’t think so. He’s quite well off in his own right. He’s into oil, you know.”
“Who is? Mel Pifton?”
“I don’t believe I know a Mel, his name is Randolph something or other. I’m so bad with last names,” she admitted.
I thanked the Cat Lady, who wobbled toward the house, cats surrounded her in greeting. She was the Cat Lady after all. It was no wonder everyone called her that. I turned to El and said, “When she mentioned oil, I was hoping she was talking about Mel Pifton, but we have some Randolph to locate now.”
El laced her fingers together. “Unless they are one and the same,” she suggested.
“From what I gathered, Mel’s money was held back. He wouldn’t be able to give her an advance, so it has to be somebody else. The question is, though, why would anyone pay the Cat Lady ahead of time for something she hasn’t even found yet?”
“Unless she really has found something and is keeping it q
uiet. We’ve been lucky so far, maybe too lucky. As it stands, I just don’t know what to think, but we need to keep searching for that treasure. What’s next on the list?”
I grimaced. “Precious Petals by Jamie.”
El’s eyes widened. “Oh, my. I sure hope the owner isn’t there. She’s just too nice to deceive.”
I had to agree with El on that. I made my way onto US 23 and headed to the simple brown building. The florist shop, which featured about the best floral arrangements that money could buy, was centrally located in East Tawas. When we walked inside, the fragrance of lilies about blew me back out the door. I loved flowers, but the scent of them was just too overpowering for me. A girl with a black apron greeted us, and we quickly told her we were just looking. “I don’t think I’ve met you before,” I said to the brunette.
“Oh no, probably not. The owner took all the regular girls out to lunch. I’m just filling in.”
I about did a happy dance, but instead, I browsed with El in tow. I moved the flowers around the cooler they were in, but no hidden package was in sight. I next felt under the counter, but wound up empty-handed. This was hopeless. El searched the hutches, which had floral arrangement in smiley-faced mugs, but still—not a jewel in sight.
I’d just given up and walked toward the door, when El shouted, “Would you come back here?” Inside one of the smiley face mugs was a gold chain attached to a purple gem. I nodded to El and began to ask the girl at the counter about ordering white roses to be delivered to my granddaughter, Sophia, to assuage my guilt. El made way for the exit.
When I got outside, I fell to my knees, trying to take in a breath of fresh air. It seemed that the scent of roses had impacted inside my nostrils. El helped me up, and that’s when the tears began to fall, like from a fountain. My vision was so blurred that when El led me back to the car, I let her drive. I knew she was swerving as I was tossed sideways, and I did a silent prayer that we’d make it home all right.
El helped me out when we got home, and I collapsed on the couch, still having difficulty breathing. “Oh, ahhh.” El brought me a glass of water, and I took a healthy drink, hoping it would somehow help.
Madison Johns - Agnes Barton 05 - Treasure in Tawas Page 8